Special Education Teacher, Music

Pankalo Education Center serves students in grades K-8 who have emotional behavioral disorders (EBD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental cognitive disabilities (DCD), and certain low-incidence disabilities. Pankalo has an integrated arts theme; the goal is to provide a compassionate, creative, safe, and child-centered learning environment, where students grow academically, socially, and personally while tapping into their creativity.

About the Role

This position provides engaging, accessible instruction in music to K–8 students receiving special education services. As part of our enrichment teaching team, this role supports students’ expressive, emotional, and social development through interactive, multisensory learning experiences. Music classes at Pankalo foster creativity, communication, and confidence. Lessons are designed to meet a wide range of abilities and may include singing, movement, rhythm exploration, instrument play, music appreciation, and collaborative performance. The curriculum emphasizes student participation, enjoyment, and personal expression while integrating strategies to support sensory needs, motor skills, and social-emotional growth. This position does not typically include case management responsibilities, allowing the teacher to focus fully on delivering joyful, inclusive instruction that nurtures each student’s unique potential.

Responsibilities

• Teach students in assigned disciplines in classrooms, small groups, or at home.
• Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Develop individual educational plans designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
• Administer tests to help determine students' developmental levels, needs, or potential.
• Confer with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students' behavioral or academic problems.
• Implement and deliver instructional activities to students; instruct and monitor students in the use of learning materials and resources.
• Monitor and assess student progress and competency mastery, including identifying appropriate assessment methods, developing and administering tests, grading assigned student work, and providing performance feedback.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate curriculum; establish learning objectives; prepare and evaluate lesson plans; evaluate and select instructional resources and/or specialized resources; adapt materials and curriculum to meet the needs of students with varying backgrounds, learning styles, and special needs.
• Manage student behavior, including developing and implementing classroom rules and applicable disciplinary procedures, assisting in the administration of applicable behavioral policies and rules, and providing appropriate interventions and strategies to address behavior issues.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records including grades, achievements, development, and attendance; ensure Due Process rights of students are maintained; develop and write Individualized Educational Plans and associated reports, as applicable.
• Participate in a variety of meetings, which may include parent or guardian conferences, special education briefings, staff and/or committee meetings, staff development sessions, and other related meetings.
• Perform related support functions, such as preparing correspondence and reports, responding to inquiries, and performing related duties.
• Provide feedback to education and student assistants; give direction to assistants as necessary.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature or level.

Requirements

This position requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and a license or ability to obtain a license from the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) in one of the following areas:

• Autism Spectrum Disorders (K-12)
• Emotional Behavior Disorders (K-12)
• Instrumental and Classroom Music (K-12)

Skills & Knowledge

• Applicable learning theories and teaching methods
• Curriculum development
• Student assessment methods
• Proactive behavior management
• Classroom management principles and practices
• Instructional methods and practices
• Differentiated instructional methods and practices
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations
• Recordkeeping principles
• Computers and related software applications
• Developing, implementing, and evaluating lessons
• Assessing student achievement and learning
• Identifying and utilizing instructional resources and/or specialized resources
• Managing classroom behavior
• Developing assessment materials
• Modifying lesson plans for specialized populations
• Maintaining applicable student records
• Applying local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations
• Preparing and maintaining records and reports
• Operating a computer and applicable software applications
• Communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc.

Physical Requirements

Positions in this class typically require: climbing, balancing, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and seeing.

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Benefits

This position is fully benefit eligible. Review the full contract and benefits offered.

Pay

Starting salary is based on education and years of experience. This is a 1.0 FTE position (184 days).

Work Environment

Special Education programs and services in Northeast Metro 916 are central to the Intermediate District's mission. Programs provide support to students from early childhood through age 21 with emotional/behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental and cognitive disabilities, deaf and hard of hearing disabilities, and learning disabilities. Our highly structured, safe learning environments share these characteristics:

• Classrooms of 4-10 students supported by 1-4 trained education assistants.
• Behavior management support, on-site mental health professionals, due process and curriculum support staff.
• In-house collaborative teams include: audiologists, behavior specialists, deaf/blind specialists and interveners, autism specialists, developmental adaptive physical education teachers, education assistants, health specialists, occupational therapists and assistants, physical/other health disabilities teachers, physical therapists and assistants, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, speech/language pathologists, and sign language interpreters.

At Northeast Metro 916, equity means that everyone has access to what they need in order to learn, grow, and thrive. Northeast Metro 916 will not discriminate against individuals based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, parental status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, age, or sexual orientation.